Archive By Section - Local News

The Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors voted unanimously at the June 2 regular meeting to raise annexation fees in the district by using a Book Value formula that amounts to $2,677.32 per acre. The annexation fee is currently $360 per acre, which General Manager Steve Knell called "fully inadequate."

The Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office has released the county's proposed budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The proposed budget will serve as an interim spending plan for Stanislaus County operations until a final budget for 2009-2010 is adopted in September. A public hearing on the 2009-2010 proposed budget has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9 to be continued if necessary on June 10 and 11 at 9 a.m. for the Board of Supervisors to adopt a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Thousands of people packed the stadium at Oakdale High School on Friday night, May 22, to celebrate the graduation of 311 high school students and four exchange students at the 115th Annual Commencement.

The Friends of Oakdale Heritage (FOH) organization is continuing its membership drive after handing out numerous applications for membership and docents at the Oakdale Chocolate Festival on May 16 and 17.

The 17th annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival saw record heat on Sunday, May 17 with temperatures hitting 107 and sending many scurrying for the misters or any spot of shade but in spite of the heat, 43,000 people spent at least part of their weekend in Oakdale, sampling chocolate and perusing vendor booths.

Tough economic conditions notwithstanding, Oakdale and the surrounding communities came though once again when it counted, raising $200,000 in the fight against cancer in the eighth annual Oakdale Relay for Life.

Average retail gasoline prices in Modesto have risen 20.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.44/gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 201 gas outlets in Modesto. This compares with the national average that has increased 12.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.17/gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

After a dry period, California is expected to experience heavy rainfall, which has prompted CAL FIRE to urge drivers to be safe on the road. Each year between 450,000 and 500,000 traffic accidents are reported in California alone. One person is killed every two and a half hours, and one person is injured every two minutes, as a result of a traffic collision. Ninety-five percent of crashes are caused by human error. With rain and snow those numbers change. This winter season, CAL FIRE is advising all drivers to take extra precaution while behind the wheel.

Faced with the possibility of financing a $20,000 special election as well as having to wait until the end of the year, the Oakdale City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the decision to appoint someone to fill Don Petersen's upcoming vacant seat.

Three members of the Oakdale Police Department were recognized for heroic action on Monday night, Feb. 2 stemming from a 2014 incident where a man threatened his family with a knife and who attempted to take his own life in the process.

For the second time the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office has asked the court to grant them more time to decide if they will pursue criminal charges against a Turlock man accused of sexually assaulting an employee at his Oakdale pizzeria.